The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has called for proactive and collective action to stem the rising cases of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) in the country.
The Executive Director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, made the call on Friday in Abuja at this year’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) 2021 National Human Rights Awards.
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The WARDC was one of the national award recipients.
She commended the NHRC for the initiative to reckoned with the work of human rights defenders, saying the commission in the past five years have been transformed and closer to the people.
She said that the WARDC was founded 22 years ago in 1999 with a vision and dream for Nigeria where the rights of the most vulnerable, voiceless and marginalized are protected.
“We started as young people and thank Ford Foundation for believing in us 22 years. We received the first grant from Ford Foundation.
“WARDC is not just organization but hub for reinvention of leadership. We have worked with 60 staff since inception and some staff have become founders of other organization. The leadership Cece Yara and CDD are products of WARDC. We are what we are today as a result of commitment of our colleagues who work tirelessly to see that we deliver on our mandate of protecting human rights,” Akiyode-Afolabi said.
She said that the organization’s success has come with a price, as it traversed from the north, south, west and eastern part of Nigeria having been victim of armed robbery attack and where their staff were attacked in Borno State.
“Not to mention the push back we encounter as we stand up for victims of acid bath, domestic violence and even victims of abuse perpetuated by some state officials.
The WARDC boss said that despite these challenges, safe guarding the lives of the vulnerable is their motivation, and that they have worked in 120 communities, handled at least 10 pro-bono cases on a weekly basis, supported legislation and policies on ending sexual gender-based violence among others.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu (SAN), said that WARDC and other awardees including Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno and Nyesom Wike of Rivers states, emerged winners for their contribution to human rights improvement in the country.
